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New walking trail opens in Southeast

Volunteers from several community groups, including the Putnam County Land Trust, the Concerned Residents of Southeast and Boy Scout Troop 440, spent the past year clearing and preparing the 1-mile-long path. The trail follows a former road and an old rail bed and sits on land owned by New York City.

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New walking trail opens in Southeast

Michael Risinit, mrisinit@lohud.com 11:46 p.m. EDT August 17, 2014

A community hike celebrating the new trail will take place Aug. 22.

A view of Diverting Reservoir in Southeast from a recently competed trail along the reservoir. Community groups and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection recently opened the trail.(Photo: NYCDEP)

SOUTHEAST – A new walking trail near the Brewster train station will provide views of the Diverting Reservoir.

Volunteers from several community groups, including the Putnam County Land Trust, the Concerned Residents of Southeast and Boy Scout Troop 440, spent the past year clearing and preparing the mile-long path. The trail follows a former road and an old rail bed and sits on land owned by New York City.

The property is part of the city's water supply system and is managed by the city's Department of Environmental Protection.

"In recent years, DEP has partnered with several nonprofit groups to develop recreation trails on water supply lands that were once off limits to the public," DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd said in a statement. "These trails allow people to learn about the incredible water supply that provides more than 1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water to 9.4 million people every day, and it allows local residents a safe place to run, walk, bike and maintain a healthy lifestyle."

The trail's opening will be celebrated Friday with a community hike. The event steps off at 11:30 a.m. Limited parking is available on Railroad Avenue and the trailhead is located opposite Morningthorpe Avenue.